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National Situation Update: Friday, April 11, 2008

Homeland Security Threat Level: YELLOW (ELEVATED).

Significant National Weather

West:
A surface high pressure ridge will dominate most of the region today with dry and seasonable conditions.  High fire danger is expected in West Texas and much of New Mexico today. A fire weather watch is in effect from 9 am MDT through this evening. West winds of 20 mph along with gusts near 35 mph and minimum relative humidity near 10 to 15% can be expected.  The region will be warming up over the next several days, by Monday highs could range from the 70s and low 80s in Montana to near 100 in Arizona.

Midwest:
A large winter storm will produce widespread precipitation over the Great Lakes, parts of the Plains, Upper Midwest and south to the Gulf Coast.   The main axis of snow will stretch from central Nebraska to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Many areas could see up to a foot of snow but parts of northeast Minnesota may see 12 to 18 inches. Portions of the Upper Peninsula of Michigan could see two to three feet of snow by late Saturday.  Strong winds will accompany this snowstorm and blizzard conditions are likely in many areas. Locations around Lake Superior may see wind gusts of 50 to 55 mph on Saturday.  Rain showers and thunderstorms are forecast from Missouri to Ohio. A wintery mix is forecast for northern Missouri, Iowa, northern Illinois and the southern half of Wisconsin.  Behind the front, temperatures will drop 5 to 25 degrees below average, into the 30s and 40s with 50s in the eastern Ohio Valley and the western high Plains.

South:
The cold front will move out of the lower Mississippi Valley early today through the Southeast tomorrow.   The front will produce scattered strong to severe thunderstorms from Louisiana to Tennessee. These thunderstorms have the potential to produce large hail, damaging winds and tornadoes.  Behind the front temperatures will be 5 to 20 degrees below average, ranging from the 40s in Tennessee and 30s in the southern Appalachians to the 60s along the northern Gulf Coast.

Northeast:
The frontal system moving out of the Midwest will produce rain over much of the region today into Saturday.  There may be a few strong thunderstorms in the Mid-Atlantic tonight and Saturday morning. (NWS, Various Media Sources)

Update - Evacuation Lifted for Volcano, Hawaii

Voluntary Evacuation order for the town of Volcano, HI is lifted however residents are advised to be on the alert and prepared.  Winds have shifted, and authorities believe the harmful emissions from the Kilauea Volcano summit area do not presently pose a threat.   Air conditions have improved to Code YELLOW status, indicating only a light level of sulfur dioxide.  (Region IX, Hawaii State Civil Defense)

Severe Weather Outbreak

On 9 April, 2008 A powerful weather system produced severe thunderstorms and tornadoes in Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. 
OKLAHOMA:   Oklahoma Office of Emergency Management EOC is activated.

TEXAS: State of Texas SOC activated to Level I (Emergency Conditions, due to Wildfires and Severe Weather). 
(Update on power outages in the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex)  ONCOR reported that 115,000 homes and businesses are without power due to the severe weather that moved through the area. An estimated 4,000 contractors and employees are working to repair the damage. ONCOR is projecting a majority of the restoration to be completed by late Saturday evening April 12th.
Stephens County - (Update on report of tornado touch down near Breckenridge) ONCOR Electric has reestablished 90 percent of service to the area.  The hospital is fully operational and the nursing homes and the City of Breckenridge Water Plant are back on line.  Stephens County has issued a boil water notice.  The American Red Cross has established a disaster services center at the First Baptist Church and will send out damage assessment teams 4/11.  The three injured people from yesterday were all treated and released.  School will reopen with its regular schedule tomorrow. 
State of Texas Response: Texas Commission on Environmental Quality (TCEQ) is working with the county to identify debris locations.  The Texas Department of Transportation (TXDOT) is providing signs.  Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) are providing supplemental law enforcement, and a curfew has been implemented from 11:00 p.m. until 5:00 a.m.  Additional responding agencies are the Department of State Health Services (DSHS), Texas Forest Service (TFS), 211, Big Country VOAD and the Texas Baptist Men.  (RLO 3A)

LOUISIANA:  Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness EOC status is normal activation. 

ARKANSAS:  State of Arkansas EOC is activated to a Level III (Limited Activation)
POTENTIAL FEDERAL INVOLVEMENT: The Region VI RRCC is activated at Level II (0700-2100 CDT).  FEMA Liaisons are on site at the Arkansas Department of Emergency Management EOC, Oklahoma EOC and the TX SOC.  FEMA Region X is on stand-by to support Region VI if needed.  IA and PA PDA teams are identified to support Arkansas, Oklahoma and Texas if requested.   Oklahoma: One IA PDA Team will begin preliminary damage assessments in Muldrow (Sequoyah County) at 0900 CDT on 4/11.  An ERT-A has been identified.  Region VI is in contact with back up region (Region X) for possible support. 
10 April 2008 there were preliminary reports of 16 tornadoes in Missouri, Iowa, and Illinois.  Reports of hail and gusty winds were more widespread, stretching from Wisconsin to Texas. (NWS, Region VI)

Mississippi Valley Flooding

CURRENT SITUATION
A storm moving through the Midwest will produce additional precipitation over the region.  Flood Warnings, Flood Watches, and Flood Statements are in effect along the Mississippi River Valley from Louisiana northward to Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana. Localized river flooding will continue for parts of the Mississippi, Ohio, and Tennessee Valleys.

STATE and LOCAL RESPONSE
Arkansas
State EOC at Level IV; monitoring and minimally staffed.
Counties: 51 affected with 51 under State Disaster Declaration.
Major Disaster declaration, FEMA-1751-DR, declared March 26, 2008.
Homes destroyed/damaged: 151 homes destroyed and 471 damaged.
Green County had an agricultural levee breach; one home impacted.
The levee in Prairie County is being reinforced by the Corps of Engineers using barrels and sandbags to mitigate the problem. They will continue to monitor the levee. (Region VI)
Major/Moderate Flooding Update:
White River:
Georgetown crested April 8, 2008 at Moderate Flood Stage and is receding.  It is forecast to remain at Moderate Flood Stage through April 14, 2008.
Des Arc is at Major Flood Stage and will recede below Major Flood Stage on April 13, 2008.
Clarendon will hold steady at Major Flood Stage through April 14, 2008.
Black River:
Pocahontas is at Moderate Flood Stage and is forecast to drop below Moderate Flood Stage April 10, 2008.
One section of levee at Pocahontas, AR remains underwater; locals may attempt to conduct temporary repairs when drainage permits. (USACE)
The Mississippi River:
Arkansas City is at Moderate Flood Stage and forecast to crest on April 11, 2008; it will hold steady at Moderate Flood Stage through April 14, 2008. (NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service).
5 IA PDA teams and 3 PA PDA teams conducting assessments.

Illinois
State EOC no longer activated.
Counties: 19 Counties with Declared States of Emergency.
The Governor has requested a Major Disaster Declaration as a result of severe storms producing heavy rain and flooding beginning on March 17, 2008 and continuing; Hazard Mitigation statewide; and Individual Assistance for 15 counties. (Region V)
Major/Moderate River Flooding:
Rock River:
Rockton is at Flood Stage, expected to rise to Major Flood Stage by April 11, 2008, cresting on April 12, 2008.
Latham Park is expected to rise to Major Flood Stage by the late evening of April 11, 2008 and crest on April 12, 2008.
Byron River is expected to rise to Major Flood Stage by April 12, 2008 and crest in the early morning of April 13, 2008.
Como River is expected to rise quickly and reach Major Flood Stage by the morning of April 11, 2008.
Joslin is at Flood Stage, expected to rise to Major Flood Stage by April 12, 2008, and crest on April 14, 2008.
Moline is at Flood Stage, forecast to rise to Major Flood Stage and crest at 16ft on April 14, 2008.  At 15.5ft, water affects the intersection of Highways 150 and 6, and the Steel Dam is under water in Milan.
Ohio River:
Cairo is holding steady at Moderate Flood Stage.
Shawneetown is at Moderate Flood Stage and is expected to crest on April 10, 2008 then fall below Moderate Flood Stage on April 13, 2008. (NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service)
Kishwaukee River:
Belvidere at Flood Stage, expected to rise to Major Flood Stage by the afternoon of April 11, 2008 and crest on the morning of April 12, 2008.
USACE furnished 3 pumps to Brookport, IL and 4 pumps to Karnack, IL. Three pumps were also provided to Smithfield, KY. USACE also provided technical assistance for the community (USACE).
Joint Individual Assistance Preliminary Damage Assessments (IA PDAs) have been completed in 12 counties.

Louisiana
State EOC is partially activated.
On March 27, 2008, the Governor of Louisiana issued a State of Emergency from March 24, 2008 to April 22, 2008.
9 Parishes have declared States of Emergency.
Major/Moderate River Flooding:
The Mississippi River:
Red River Landing is currently at Moderate Flood Stage and is forecast to continue rising through April 13, 2008. (NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service)
Baton Rouge is at Major Flood Stage and will continue to steadily rise through April 14.  River traffic and industrial activity will be affected.  (NWS Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service)
Based on NWS, the New Orleans Office of Emergency Preparedness, and USACE assessment that no levees will be overtopped and river will crest well below the maximum protection height of the New Orleans levees. (NO OEP/NWS/USACE/Region VI)
USACE has fortified over two miles of the "Potato Ridge" levee across the Fore Bay to the Morganza Flood Control structure and is continuing to provide engineering support. (NICC)
LA DOTD providing 40 dump trucks to haul sand to sandbagging operations in Vidalia to control "sand boils" below the levees.  No levee issues reported and local districts are working on sand boil issues.
The ring levee surrounding Angola was intentionally breached to eliminate the possibility of overtopping causing 5,300 acres of farm and pastureland flood.

Mississippi
EOC at Level III (Partially Activated w/MEMA and key State agencies only).
Governor's State of Emergency for Mississippi River Flooding signed April 4, 2008 in 33 counties.
95 people displaced. No major roads or interstates closed as this time.
Mississippi State PDAs indicate 3 home destroyed and 37 homes with major damage.
Major/Moderate Flooding:
The Mississippi River:
Greenville, MS is at Moderate Flood Stage and forecast to rise through April 12, 2008. Practically all areas between levees are flooded and approximately 50 buildings have water inside.
Vicksburg, MS is at Moderate Flood Stage and rising. The river is forecast to continue minimal rising through April 13, 2008.
Natchez, MS is at Moderate Flood Stage and is forecast to steadily rise through April 13, 2008.
The State of Mississippi has requested 1 PA and 2 IA Joint PDA teams due to damages from the severe weather on April 4-5, 2008. The assessments began April 9, 2008. (Region IV)

FEDERAL RESPONSE
FEMA Region IV

RRCC at Level III, 8:00 a.m. - 11:00 p.m. EDT (Mon-Fri).
PDAs are ongoing in Mississippi

RRCC at Level III, 7:30 a.m. - 8:00 p.m. CDT (Mon-Fri).
Monitoring river levels and maintaining communication with State Emergency Operation Centers and regional Emergency Support Functions.
FEMA state liaisons identified for state EOCs, if requested.

RRCC at Level II, 7:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m. CDT (Mon-Fri).
USACE activated to report to the RRCC April 11, 2008.
FEMA state liaisons deployed to state EOCs in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana and Arkansas.
Conducting daily conference calls with Texas and the National Weather Service.
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) New Orleans District is currently conducting levee patrols/inspections along the Mississippi River and providing technical Assistance as necessary.
FIRST Atlanta on site at Little Rock, AR JFO, based on anticipation of additional severe weather.
PDAs are on-going in Arkansas.
ERT-As have been identified.
PDA Teams are on stand-by to deploy to the affected states.

RRCC at Level III, 6:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. CDT (Mon-Fri).
Region VII continues to coordinate with Region IV on potential support for the Mississippi Flooding.
FEMA state liaison deployed to Missouri EOC.(Denton MOC, Region V, Region VI, Region VII, USACE, USCG, (Region V, Region VII, Region VI, NWS, NSS, NGB,NICC, ADEM, TX SOC, IL EOC, ARC, MEMA, NOAA)

Other Federal Agency Response Activity

Department of Transportation (DOT)
Flights delayed at Houston, Bush, Austin, Chicago-O'Hare, Austin and other major Midwest and mid-Atlantic airports.
US Highways reported closed in affected states are Texas (Travis County, I-35); Arkansas (I-55 in Mississippi County; I-40 in Crittenden, St. Francis, Pulaski, Faulkner, Johnson and Crawford County); Oklahoma (US-270 between Wister and Hodgen at the dam, due to high water); Mississippi (I-20 eastbound between Bolton and Norrell Road); Missouri (US 40 clear from I-70 in St. Charles County to I-270 in St. Louis County), including several State and local roads.

US Coast Guard (USCG) District 8
Anchorage cleared at Bonnet Carre Spillway on Mississippi River, Louisiana. 
Should be responding with additional information about Bonnet Carre Spillway
US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE)
130 personnel deployed.
Personnel in Arkansas monitoring the White, Arkansas and Little Rivers.
54 pumps issued to State and local authorities.
Bonnet Carre Spillway on Mississippi River north of New Orleans, Louisiana, will be opened at 12:00 p.m. CDT April 11, 2008, for approximately two-to-four-weeks to keep the river moving no faster than 1.25 million cubic feet per second.
No shortfalls reported; evaluating supplies and replenishing, as necessary.

National Guard Bureau (NGB)
2 personnel on State Active Duty (SAD) in Arkansas.
50 cots and blankets delivered to Berryville, Arkansas (Carroll County); unknown number of personnel.
Louisiana National Guard (LANG) closed mission at Morganza Levee.

Department of Veterans Affairs (DVA)
Law Enforcement Training Center in Little Rock, Arkansas reports tornadic activity.
Cemetery Administration reports headquarters building at Fort Smith, Arkansas damaged by golf-ball-sized hail and high winds.

General Services Administration (GSA)
Currently checking all federal buildings in affected states.
Fort Worth, Texas Federal Center reports all power out.
Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas Metroplex damaged by severe weather.  (OFAs as Identified)

Fire Management Assistance Grant (FMAG)

FMAG-2759-TX was issued for the Parker Fire near the City of Trenton, Texas. The Fire has burned more than 4,000 acres and there have been 140 voluntary evacuations with 400 businesses and residences threatened. The Fire is 0 percent contained.  There is no estimated date for containment.(FEMA HQ)   

Tropical Weather Outlook

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Earthquake Activity

An earthquake occurred at 12:21 AM EDT on Friday, April 11, 2007. The magnitude 3.6 event occurred 10 miles south southeast of Swedes Place, Nevada, at a depth of 0.0 miles. No reports of any injuries or damages.  (USGS/NEIC/WDC)

Preliminary Damage Assessments

No new activity (FEMA HQ)

Disaster Declaration Activity

No new activity (FEMA HQ)